Liverpool Transfer News: An In-Depth Scouting Report for Fabio Borini

According to The Mirror, Liverpool have struck a £12 million deal for Roma forward Fabio Borini, who is set to become manager Brendan Rodgers' first signing for the club.

Despite having previously played for both Chelsea and Swansea, many British football fans will be relatively unfamiliar with the young journeyman, with the player only coming to the forefront as a significant talent in this recently concluded season.

In his 24 appearances for Serie A club AS Roma, Borini struck nine times, as well as finding the net once in the Italian cup.

He also made his debut for the national team in February of this year, playing in Italy's 1-0 loss to the United States.

Borini was selected for the Italian squad taken to the European Championships, but was not given any playing time.

Born on March 29, 1991, the 21-year-old has been playing football at a high level from a very young age, having joined Bologna's youth set-up when he was only 10 years old.

But before assessing the player's abilities, one must draw attention to the youngster's personality.

Off the pitch, Borini is soft-spoken and polite—it would be a fair assumption to say that he has never been keen on press conferences and post-match interviews.

However, on the pitch, Borini plays with a tenacity that should serve him well in the Premier League.

He is always looking to get on the ball and is not afraid of tracking back and tackling to help his teammates.

One thing is for certain: he will not be overwhelmed by the physical nature of the English league.

He is also unafraid at running at defenders, although his dribbling skills are not yet at the level to match his quickness and make him a consistent threat.

But if Borini's development over the past few years has shown us anything, it's that he's always willing to learn and develop.

Although sometimes described as a poacher due to his clinical nature, the Italian also has a decent shot from distance—a trait that will serve him well under Rodgers.

He is extremely versatile, being able to play on either flank or as second striker.

This is the type of flexibility which has made Liverpool so keen to sign him, as they look to transition to a quicker, more mobile attack—similar to the type of football Rodgers sought to develop at his previous club, Swansea City.

This is perhaps the reason why Andy Carroll's future at the club is currently in doubt, as the big man is unlikely to fit into the new system.

Although £12 million was a slightly higher fee than some expected Liverpool to pay for Borini, if the Italian starlet's potential is eventually realized, the deal should prove a bargain.